Car door



Sept. 29, 1936. K. J. ToBlN 2,055,807

` CAR DOOR Filed OCL. l, 1954 4 Sheets-She??I ll sept. 29, 193g.

K. J. lTOBIN CAR DOOR Filed OC.. l, 1934 4 SheetsSheet 2 sept. 29, 1936. K. J. TOBIN 2,055,807

CAR DOOR Filed Oct. l, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 54111? www effaeeacaeeily TTX K. J. TOBIN Sept. 29, 1936.

CAR DOOR Filed Oct. l, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 %\&

KEMA/ETH J. 75

Aiwa TTY Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES kPATENT OFFICE can noon of vOhio Application October 1, 1-934, Serial No. 746,351

7 Claims.

This invention relates to car doors and is directed to sliding doors of the lift type.

Of the sliding doors utilized upon railway cars the door heretofore almost universally employed was so designed that the weight thereof was at all times carried upon supporting rollers or balls used to facilitate sliding of the doors. The imperfections of this type of door were recognized .and led to many abortive attempts to design Va Icommercially acceptable door, the weight of which would be carried by the supporting rollers or balls only when such doors were being moved; at all other times the doors were to be supported frictionally and the rollers or balls relieved of their weight. This latter type of door is known as the lift door and is provided with mechanism for effecting elevation of the door to dispose its Weight upon the rollers or balls.

One form of lift mechanism vemployed em- Ybodies roller retainers having trunnions journaled in the door vabout which the door is elevated as the retainers are rotated by suitable lever and connecting means Aabout the rollers as fulcrums. Lift doors of this design evolved after D5 years of experimentation have found favor with the railroads. In some instances, however, difliculty has been encountered, principally through the inexperience of workmen, in properly journal-ing the trunni'ons in their bearings, thus leadv ing to a defectively operating door.

It is an object of this invention to provide sliding lift doors, the construction of which shall be substantially fool-proof andwhich shall overcome the defects above noted.

A further object is to provide sliding lift doors incorporating structural units which shall embody lift mechanism, such units being accurately and separately assembled and subsequently applied to complete the doors.

A further object is to provide novel structural units embodying lift mechanism for assembly in sliding doors of the lift type.

A further object is to provide novel structural units for sliding lift doors comprising a panel section and lift mechanism accurately assembled therewith.

A further object is to provide repair or conversion units embodying lift mechanism for simply and economically converting straight 50 sliding doors into sliding lift doors.

iOther objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part'of this specication, y 1

'55 Figure 1 is a partial elevation of a car side (UL20-22) Y v.upon .which is mounted sa "door embodying the instant invention.;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2&2 of Figure 1;

`Figure 3 is a `horizontal section taken on line 5 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a 'horizontal sectiontaken on line .-4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 vis ahorizontal section taken on line 5 5 fof .Figure 1; 10

Figure' 6 is a View similar to Figure 2, showing a modiiied form of the invention;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure .1, illustrating anotherembodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 15 8 8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 Yis a ver-tical section taken on line 9-f9 of Figure 7 .Figure 10 is 4a .partial elevation of the struc- `turallift unit embodied in the door illustrated 20 in Figure 1; and

Figure 11 .is an elevation of the structural lift unitembodied in the door illustrated' in Figure '7.

Referring to the form of invention illustrated Vin Figuressl to 5, inclusive, and Figure 10, the numeral Ivdesignates a door mounted upon a supporting track II for` movement relative to a car side I2. The door is guided in such move- -ment and retained upon the carv side by means of the overlapping engagement of a top retain- `30 ing bar I3 andthe upper'margin of the Vdoor I0 and by the overlapping engagement between the lower margin of the door and the track, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The vdoor is adapted to control an opening I4 pro- 35 vided in the car side I2, the vertical boundaries ofthe door lopening being defined by a front door postV I5 and a rear door post I6. In its closed position, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, `the front margin of 'the door 40 is adapted to be received within a pocket II formed in affront stop angle member I8 which coacts with ya lsealing strip I9 secured to the forward margin of the door to properly seal said door margin. In its closed position, moreover, a 45 sealing strip 20 secured to the rear vertical margin of the door cooperates with a guard and spark strip 2I secured to the rear ydoor post I Ii to provide a proper weather seal for 'the rear margin of the door. A reinforcing angle 22 is also secured 50 to the rearA margin of the door. When-in closed position the door is adapted to be locked by a. locking device indicated in its entirety by the numeral '23. The door may be aided in assuming its'final closedposition by means of opening and 55 closing mechanism indicated as a Whole by the numeral 24, which mechanism may also be used to impart initial opening movement to the door if desired.

As clearly illustrated in Figures l to 5, inclusive, the door embodies essentially a metallic panel 25 and customary reinforcing members for said panel secured to the vertical margins thereof. The sealing strip I9 may serve as a reinforcement for the front vertical margin of the door while the sealing strip 2E) and angle member 22 may function in a similar manner to reinforce the rear vertical margin of the door. Additional reinforcement may be utilized for the upper horizontal margin of the door if desired.

The panel 25 of the door, which may be provided with horizontal corrugations 26 and vertical corrugations 2 and 28 if desired, is usually comprised of three panel sections, these sections in the illustrated embodiment of the invention being designated by the numerals 29, 30, and 3l. It is to be understood, of course, that the number of sections may vary as desired. These panel sections are secured together along overlapping joints and at their vertical margins are fastened to the vertical reinforcing members.

The door illustrated and to which the instant invention relates is of the lift type. In doors of this type frictional support of the door is had usually upon the track which supports the door at all times except during the times when the door is actually being moved relative to the car side in order to close or expose the door opening. When it is desired to move the door it is elevated so as to break the frictional engagement with the supporting track and to dispose the weight thereof upon rollers or other antifriction means in order to expedite movement of ythe door. The means for elevating the door and supporting it for the desired movement is commonly known as elevating or lifting means.

One form of such means which has been found to be commercially successful is illustrated in the drawings. The illustrated lifting means comprises roller retainers 32-32 which carry rollers 33-33. These retainers are disposed respectively adjacent the front and rear vertical margins of the door and each embodies oppositely extending trunnions 34-35 adapted to be received Within bearings provided in the door. The bearing for the trunnion 34 in the instant form of the lnvention is provided by means of openings 36 and 3l formed, respectively, in a backing plate 38 and in a reinforcing plate 39 secured to the backing plate. The bearing for the trunnion 35 is formed by means of openings 40 and 4| in a downwardly extending portion 42 of the panel section 3| and in the reinforcing plate 43 for said portion. The downwardly extending portion 42 of the panel section is provided by means of an offset 44 whereby said portion is disposed in spaced relation to the backing plate 38 and thus provides a space for the reception of the lifting means. A connecting bar 45 engages the roller retainers 32-32 in order to insure simultaneous operation of said retainers.

The description of the roller retainers thus far is common to both retainers. In addition, hcwever, one of the retainers, preferably that disposed adjacent the front vertical margin of the door, is provided as by being cast integral therewith with an operating lever 46 byrmeans of which the door may be elevated so as to break the frictional engagement with the track and to dispose the door upon rollers 33-33 for movement relative to the car side in a manner well known.

The frictional engagement between the door I and the supporting track H is established in the instant embodiment of the invention by the engagement between the web 47 of an inverted channel shaped member 48, the respective flanges 49 and 50 of which are secured adjacent the lower edges of the offset portion of the panel section 3l and the backing plate 38.

The lower edge of the door, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, is closed against the direct ingress of air by means of a flange provided upon the substantially channel shaped section 52 Secured to the side sill 53. The flange 5I extends under the inner plane of the door and thus acts as a baffle against the wind. The upper flange 54 of the channel shaped section 52 may be extended outwardly so as to provide a support for a threshold plate 55 which preferably embraces the ange 54 as indicated at 56.

Prior to the instant invention assembly of sliding lift doors was accomplished upon an assembly line. In View of this fact some difficulty was encountered in properly journaling the trunnions 34 and 35 of the roller retainers 32-32 in the bearings provided therefor in the door. This difficulty was aggravated by the employment of inexperienced workmen, with the consequence that in some instances the improper journaling of the roller retainers led to the production of doors which were not acceptable to the railroads. In accordance with the instant invention, however, these difficulties are entirely obviated, inasmuch as it is proposed to provide a structural unit embodying the lift means which may properly be assembled as a unit independently of the construction of the balance of the door and, subsequently, applied in the door to insure correct assembly. The structural unit may be made as bench or jig operation thus insuring accurate mounting of the lift means, whatever its construction, in the unit. With the illustrated lift means the trunnions 34 and 35 may be journaled in properly aligned bearings insuring an eiciently operating door. Subsequent line assembly of the unit with the remainder of the door parts may then readily be accomplished.

To this end a unit 5'! is provided which is illustrated in Figure of the drawings and embodies the lower panel section 3l, together with the lifting means heretofore described, correctly assembled to the panel section. In the incorporation of the unit 5l in a completed door it becomes evident that the remainder of said door may be completely fabricated and assembled with the exception of the unit 51. This unit may subsequently be assembled with the remainder of the door in order to provide a complete door. As appears from Figure l0 of the drawings the panel section 3l is provided with a plurality of openings 58 by means of which the unit may be riveted, where a riveted door is provided, to the lower margin of the panel section and to the vertical reinforcing members I9, 20 and 22.

The invention hereinabove described is carried into the door unit 59, partially illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings diiers from that illustrated in Figures l to 5, inclusive, essentially in the manner of supporting the door. In the considered embodiment of the invention the door is supported upon an angle track 60, the horizontal flange 6l of which serves as a tread for the track and also as a means for securing the track upon the car. The track 60 is disposed so that the vertical leg 62 thereof extends downwardly in interlocking relationship with a hook shaped member 63 whereby the door is guided and retained upon the car side.

The instant invention is also embodied in a structural lift unit by virtue of which the usual straight sliding door may readily and economically be converted into a sliding door of the lift type. For this purpose a structural lift unit 64 is provided and comprises plate members 65 and 66, the latter of which is offset as indicated at 61 to provide a downwardly extending portion 68 disposed in spaced relationship to the plate member 65. The members 65 and 66 are secured together adjacent their lower margins by means of a Z shaped member 69, the upstanding leg 'l0 of which is secured to the downwardly extending portion 68 and the depending leg 1I of which is secured to the lower margin of the plate member 65. Lift mechanism of the character hereinbefore described is disposed in the space provided between the plate member 65 and the depending portion 68 of the plate member 66, the roller retainers 32-32 of such lift mechanism having their trunnions 34 and 35 journaled in the bearings 12 and 13 formed in the plate members 65 and 66. The outer plate member 66 is formed adjacent the vertical margins thereof with vertical corrugations 'l5 and 16 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

When it is desired to convert a straight sliding door to a sliding door of the lift type by the utilization of the structural unit above described it is only necessary that the lower portion of the panel of the straight sliding door be removed as, for example, by burning it away and to substitute for the portion of the panel removed the structural lift unit 64. The assembly of this unit with the remainder of the door may be accomplished by the insertion of the rear margin of the unit between the sealing strip 20 and the reinforcing angle 22 and moving the unit upward so that the vertical corrugations 'l5 and 16 provided in the plate member 66 will enter and underlie the vertical corrugations such as 21 and 28 normally provided in the door of the kind illustrated. Rivets may then be driven through the openings provided in the unit 64 and in the aligned openings provided in the remainder of the door, thereby securely attaching such unit and obtaining a conversion of the straight sliding door to a sliding lift door. At the same time it is insured that proper bearing for the trunnions 34 and 35 of the roller retainers is obtained.

In connection with a converted door, Figure 9 illustrates a form of angle track 11 which may be utilized to support the door. Members 18 and 19 embodied in the unit 64 cooperate with the track to restrict movement of the door toward the car side while the depending flange 1| of the Z shaped reinforcing member 69 cooperates with the track to restrict the outward movement of the door relative to the car side.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a sliding lift door, a panel section, reinforcing members secured to the vertical margins of said panel section,- said reinforcing members extending below said section, in combination with a separate, preassembled structural unit comprising a metallic member and lift mechanism embodying roller retainers provided with rollers, said retainers being eccentrically mounted upon andV carried by said member, and means securing said unit to said panel section and said reinforcing members to complete said door.

2. In a sliding lift door, top and intermediate panel sections secured together along horizontal seams, reinforcing members secured to the vertical margins of said sections in combination with a separate, preassembled structural unit comprising a lower panel section and lift mechanism embodying roller retainers provided with rollers, said retainers being eccentrically carried by said lower section, said unit being incorporated into said door by securing said lower panel section to said intermediate panel section and said reinforcing members.

3. A preassembled structural unit for sliding lift doors comprising a metallic door panel section carrying lift mechanism embodying roller retainers provided with rollers, said retainers being eccentrically mounted upon said door panel section, said unit being capable of assembly with the remaining members of said door to provide a complete door.

4. A preassembled structural unit for sliding lift doors comprising a plurality of metallic plates, portions of said plates being offset relative to each other, lift mechanism embodying roller retainers provided with rollers, said retainers being eccentrically carried by said unit in said offset, said unit being capable of application to the preassemlaled members of a door to provide a complete oor.

5. A preassembled structural unit for sliding lift doors comprising a plurality of metallic plates, portions of said plates being offset relative to each other, lift mechanism carried by said unit in said offset and having roller retainers eccentrically journaled in said plates and provided with rollers, said unit being capable of application to the preassembled members of a door to provide a complete door.

6. A preassembled structural unit for sliding lift doors comprising a metallic panel section, the lower margin of said section being oiset from the main plane of said section, a plate secured to said section above said offset portion and being positioned in spaced relation to said offset portion and lift mechanism embodying roller retainers provided with rollers disposed within said oiset, said roller retainers being eccentrically mounted upon said panel section.

7. In a sliding lift door, a metallic panel, reinforcing members secured to the vertical margins of said panel, said reinforcing members extending below said panel in combination with a separate, preassembled structural unit comprising a metallic member and lift mechanism embodying roller retainers provided with rollers, said retainers being eccentrically carried by said metallic member, said unit being secured to the lower margin of said panel and extending downwardly therefrom and means securing said unit to said reinforcing members.

KENNETH J. TOBIN. 

